Card game

ABSTRACT

A novel card game wherein a player may place a Pair Of Aces Or Better wager and/or Poker wager, then an optional Bonus wager. A Player&#39;s Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins if the Player&#39;s hand is a pair of Aces or better, and wherein the Player&#39;s two or more Aces receives a blackjack pay. The Poker&#39;s wager wins if the Player&#39;s hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker&#39;s hand, and wherein the Player wins all ties. The Player&#39;s Bonus wager wins if the Player&#39;s hand is a predetermined rank or better. A Player&#39;s 7-Card 9 High hand or 7-Card Straight Flush hand is an automatic winner for three said independent wagers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/152,916, filed May 18, 2008, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/985,746, filed Nov. 16, 2007, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/859,562, filed Sep. 1, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,161 B2, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/431,044, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,467, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/823,569, filed Mar. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,465, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/315,295, filed May 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,147 B1, and claims the benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from the following provisional patent applications: Ser. No. 60/474,647, filed May 3, 2003; 60/488,322, filed Jul. 18, 2003.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to card games and, in particular, to card games for use in casinos and cardrooms.

Pai Gow Poker, a seven-card stud poker game, is getting more and more popular in casinos across the country every day. Players who loves Pai Gow Poker found the game is simple enough and provides them seven cards for reading enjoyment as well as relaxation. Yet, many players are disgruntled with its adverse features—collecting a 5% commission of all winning wagers and the copy-hand rules in which the Banker wins all same ranking hands; while some casinos find the game too slow and not profitable. Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/823,569 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,147 B1 to Lo are invented to overcome these disadvantages of Pai Gow Poker. Besides eliminating both a 5% commission thing and the copy-hand rules, they simplifies the dealing procedure and the rules of play of Pai Gow Poker. However, two said games offers players an excessive number of bets, which could confuse the players every time they make a betting decision. The present invention is devised to solve these problems and to make the game more player friendly by reversing the copy rules of Pai Gow Poker to a new rules that a Player wins all ties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a seven-card-stub poker game, played with at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one Joker. The Joker either may be used as an Ace or to form a Straight or Flush, or may be used as any card. Two or more players, preferably seven players, may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker or Dealer whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker must place a Poker wager playing against the Banker's hand and/or Pair Of Aces Or Better wager betting on the content of the Player's own hand first, then an optional Bonus wager betting to win a jackpot payout.

After at least one wager is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards. From each seven dealt cards, every Player and the Banker each selects and keeps his or her best 5-card hand and discards two cards.

POKER BET: In the Poker Bet game, a Player's best 5-card hand is compared to the Banker's best 5-card hand according to the rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is the second highest Straight and when it is suited, A2345 is the second highest Straight Flush.

If the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand (i.e., a hand consists of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, and Queen in suited Diamond is a 7-Card Straight Flush hand) or a 7-Card 9 High hand (i.e., a hand that is not a pair or better and consists of 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3 and 2, or 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2), the Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1; the Player's wager wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; and if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's.

PAIR OF ACES OR BETTER BET: A Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is a pair of Aces, Two Pair, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand is not a pair of Aces or better, the Player's wager loses; and the Player's winning wager is paid as follows:

Hand Payout Odds Full House through 5 Aces 2 to 1 Flush 3 to 2 Pair of Aces through Straight 1 to 1 7-Card 9 High 1 to 1

BONUS BET: If a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card poker hand is not 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's wager loses; if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card poker hand is 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid as follows:

Hand Payout Odds 7-Card Straight Flush with No Joker 8,000 to 1 7-Card Straight Flush with Joker 2,000 to 1 5 Aces 800 to 1 Royal Flush 200 to 1 Straight Flush 60 to 1 4 of a Kind 40 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 3 of a Kind 2 to 1 7-Card 9 High 10 to 1

After reading their cards, each Player places his or her cards face up on the appropriate spaces of the table layout. The dealer then reveals the Banker's six remaining cards, selects and keeps the Banker's best 5-card hand and discards two cards, and settles each Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager first if any, then each Player's Poker wager if any, and each Player's Bonus wager last if any, against the Banker.

Versions of games played with at least three cards,such as three, four, five, six, or eight cards per hand can be created without departing the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

An objective of the present invention is to provide players a thrilling, enjoyable and relaxing gaming experience, while giving casinos a fair return on investment.

Another objective of the present invention is that it balances the house advantage—great enough to give a casino a fair return on investment while no so large to give players the sense of winning.

A further objective of the present invention that it provides casinos a great number of sets of rules to choose from and to meets their particular need.

One feature of the present invention is that it teaches two Even-Money-Payout games with high hit frequency designed to enable players winning more often, thus having more fun, and one Jackpot-Payout game designed to enable players betting a little and being able to win a bundle.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide players of all levels, novice or experienced, a brainless game that is easy to learn and play by utilizing familiar elements of traditional poker.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide players a fun and relaxing game that provides players Jokers for added excitement and plurality of cards for card reading enjoyment.

Another further feature of the present invention is to provide players the flexibility of playing, at their choice, one to three different games at any given round of play.

An advantage of the present invention is to combine three games into one, generating more wagering actions.

Another advantage of the present invention that discloses three rapid-wager-resolution games, producing more hands dealt per hour.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the present invention, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a Player's betting area of the table layout of the present invention: The double squares marked ‘Pair Aces Or Better’ is a Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet spot; the circle marked ‘Bonus’ is a Bonus Bet spot; the circle marked ‘Poker’ is a Poker Bet spot; the big square marked ‘Best 5 Cards’ is a Player's best 5-card hand space; and the area marked ‘2 Discards’ is a Player's two discards space.

FIG. 2 shows the table layout of the joker-semi-wild version of the present invention, called “7 Card Thrill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment of the invention is a seven-card stud poker game, played with one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus one Joker. Other embodiments include versions that would be played with at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one Joker. In another thirteen embodiments, the invention is played with at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards, wherein either all Twos, all Threes, all Fours, all Fives, all Sixes, all Sevens, all Eights, all Nines, all Tens, all Jacks, all Queens, all Kings, or all Aces are Wild Cards. In an embodiment, the invention is played with at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards.

In the preferred embodiment, each Joker or Wild Card may be used as an Ace, or to form a Straight or Flush. In an embodiment, each Joker or Wild Card may be used as any card.

In the preferred embodiment, the present invention offers seven positions, six Players and one Banker; table size, management of players, players' bets, and speed of play are the key reasons for the choice of seven positions. In other embodiments, lesser or greater than seven positions can be created in accordance with this invention if, for example, multiple decks are used. A Player who is not a Banker may place a Poker wager playing against the Banker's hand and/or Pair Of Aces Or Better wager betting against the contents of the Player's own hand first, then the Player has an option to place a Bonus wager.

After at least one wager is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards. In the preferred embodiment, every Player and the Banker each receives his or her own seven-card dealt hand either at one time or proportionally, preferably starting from the Player sitting to the immediate left of the dealer, continuing in a clockwise fashion and ending with the Banker. The cards are preferably dealt to each Player and to the Banker one card at a time for seven times if the cards are shuffled by a dealer; and the cards are preferably dealt to each Player and to the Banker in a stack of seven cards if the cards are shuffled by a shuffling device. In an embodiment, seven hands of seven cards are always dealt, regardless of the actual number of players; and some random number generation device such as a random number generator display or a dice shaker, is utilized to assign the dealt hands to players to reduce the likelihood of problems in dealing. In other embodiments, every Player and the Banker will receive their hand in either one of the following fashions:

1. They receive their own six cards and one community card.

2. They receive their own five cards and two community cards.

3. They receive their own four cards and three community cards.

4. They receive their own three cards and four community cards.

5. They receive their own two cards and five community cards.

6. They receive their own one card and six community cards. And

7. They receive no card their own and seven community cards.

Once the dealer has delivered the cards to all players, the dealer turns over the Banker's seven cards with only the top card exposed. Each Player selects and keeps his or her best 5-card hand, discards two cards, and then places the cards either face up or face down on the appropriate spaces of the table layout. The dealer then reveals the Banker's six remaining cards, selects and keeps the Banker's best 5-card hand discards two cards, opens the cards of the Player at the immediate right of the dealer, and settles the Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager first if any, then the Player's Poker wager if any, and the Player's Bonus wager last if any, against the Banker. After completing the transaction of the Player at the immediate right of the dealer, the dealer moves on and completes the transaction of the next Player, and so on. Upon the completion of all transactions, a new round of play will begin.

POKER BET: Mainly, the object of Poker bet is to have a best 5-card hand that ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand. In this game, a Player's best 5-card hand is compared to the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either one of the following rankings below:

The rankings of first embodiment is a preferred embodiment wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is the second highest Straight, and when it is suited, A2345 is the second highest Straight Flush.

The rankings of second embodiment is an embodiment wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is the lowest Straight, and when it is suited, A2345 is the lowest Straight Flush.

The rankings of third embodiment is an embodiment wherein hands are ranked in any predetermined descending order.

A Poker wager may be settled according to either one of the following sets of rules:

Rules 1: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better (i.e. a hand consists of King, Queen, 9, 8, and 7 is a hand of King-Queen; a hand consists of King, 9, 8, 6, and 5 is not a hand of King-Queen), or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 2: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined rank or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not the predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 3: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not the hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 4: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined rank or is better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not the predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 5: A Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high (a hand consisting of A 9875 is one of A high hands) or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, or is paid according to a pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 6: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 7: A Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, or is paid according to a pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 8: A Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7.-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 9: A Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's Poker wager pushes if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 10: A Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's Poker wager pushes if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 11: A Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission (such as a 5% commission), if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 12: A Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's best Continuation-In-Part Of application Ser. No. 12/152,916 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 13: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen high or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 14: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined hand or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not the predetermined hand or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 15: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen high or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 16: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a predetermined rank or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not the predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 17: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a hand of Ace-high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a hand of Ace-high or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a hand of Ace-high or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 18: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined hand or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 19: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a hand of Ace-high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a hand of Ace-high or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a hand of Ace-high or better, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a hand of Ace-high or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 20: A Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 21: A Player's Poker wager pushes if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined hand or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 22: A Player's Poker wager pushes and neither wins nor loses if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined hand or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 23: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent of commission; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 24: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent of commission; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

PAIR OF ACES OR BETTER BET: There are two versions of Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet and they are:

Version I of Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet: A Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is a pair of Aces, Two Pair, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; the Player's wager loses if the Player is not dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush or a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand is not a pair of Aces or better; the Player's winning wager is paid according to either one of the following pay tables below or any other predetermined pay table:

PAY TABLE 1 Hand Payout Odds Two Pair Or Better 1 to 1 Two Or More Aces 3 to 2 7-Card 9 High 1 to 1

PAY TABLE 2 Hand Payout Odds Full House through 5 Aces 2 to 1 Flush 3 to 2 Pair of Aces through Straight 1 to 1 7 Card 9 High 1 to 1

Version II of Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet: A Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins if the Player's best 5-card hand is a pair of Aces, Two Pair, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; the Player's wager loses if the Player's best 5-card hand is not a pair of Aces or better; the Player's winning wager is paid according to either one of the following pay tables below or any other predetermined pay table:

PAY TABLE 1 Hand Payout Odds Two Pair Or Better 1 to 1 Two Or More Aces 3 to 2

PAY TABLE 2 Hand Payout Odds Full House through 5 Aces 2 to 1 Flush 3 to 2 Pair of Aces through Straight 1 to 1

BONUS BET: Either version of the following games can be created to be the Bonus Bet of the present invention:

Bonus Bet Of 3 Of A Kind Or Better I: A Player's wager wins If the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card poker hand is 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's wager loses if the Player does not have any said winning hand; the Player's winning wager is paid as follows:

Hand Payout Odds 7 Card Straight Flush with No Joker 8,000 to 1 7 Card Straight Flush with Joke 2,000 to 1 5 Aces 800 to 1 Royal Flush 200 to 1 Straight Flush 60 to 1 4 of a Kind 40 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 3 of a Kind 2 to 1 7 Card 9 High 10 to 1

Bonus Bet Of 3 Of A Kind Or Better II: A Player's Bonus wager wins if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand with 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's with 3 of a Kind or better; the Player's wager loses if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand is not 3 of a Kind or better; and the Player's winning Bonus wager is paid according to the following pay tables:

Hand Payout odds 7-Card Straight Flush With No Joker 10,000 to 1 7-Card Straight Flush With Joker 3,000 to 1 5 Aces 1,000 to 1 Royal Flush With No Joker 400 to 1 Royal Flush With Joker 200 to 1 Straight Flush 70 to 1 4 of a Kind 40 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 3 Of A Kind 2 to 1 7-Card 9 High 10 to 1

Bonus Bet Of 3 Of A Kind Or Better III: If a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card poker hand is 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid either according a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card poker hand is not 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of 3 Of A Kind Or Better IV: If a Player's best 5-card poker hand is 3 of a Kind or better, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid either according a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player's hand is not one of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of Straight Or Better I: If a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player is not one of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of Straight Or Better II: If a Player's best 5-card hand is Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player's hand is not of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of Flush. Or Better I: If a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's hand is not one of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of Flush Or Better III: If a Player's best 5-card hand is Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player's hand is not one of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of A Predetermined Rank Or Better I: If a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is one of the predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet Of A Predetermined Rank Or Better II: If a Player's best 5-card hand is one of the predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined pay table or a predetermined payout odds; if the Player's hand is not one of said winning hands, the Player's wager loses.

Optionally, the pay table of any version of Bonus Bet can be subject to a predetermined maximum payout per Bonus bet or per whole table (the predetermined maximum payout is shared by all Bonus Bet winners in any given round of play) if selected; such predetermined maximum payout can be $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $200,000 or any other predetermined maximum payout.

After reading their cards, each Player places his or her cards face up on the appropriate spaces of the table layout. The dealer then reveals the Banker's six remaining cards, selects and keeps the Banker's best 5-card poker hand and discards two other cards, and settles each Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet wager first if any, then each Player's Poker Bet wager if any, and each Player's Bonus Bet wager last if any, against the Banker.

OTHER VERSIONS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION: Other versions of the present invention can be created in the following ways:

1. The present invention consists of Poker Bet only.

2. The present invention consists of Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet only.

3. The present invention consists of Bonus Bet only.

4. The present invention consists of Poker Bet and Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet.

5. The present invention consists of Poker Bet and Bonus Bet. And

6. The present invention consists of Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet and Bonus Bet.

With some adjustments or modifications to the present invention, any one, any two, or all three of games: Bonus Bet, Pair Of Aces Or Better Bet and Bonus Bet, can be incorporated into any other seven-card stud poker game or any seven-card draw poker game, and versions of games played with playing cards, played on an electronic device including a slot machine, palm-held machine, computer, lap-top computer, and etc., can be created.

Versions of games played with at least three cards per hand such as three, four, five, six, or eight cards per hand can be created without departing the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

VERSION OF AT LEAST THREE CARDS PER HAND: This version can consists of only any one bet, only any two bets, or all three bets of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet and Bonus Bet, preferable all three bets. After at least one of three wagers of Poker wager, Specified Hands wager, and Bonus wager is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt at least three cards, from each Player's cards, each Player either selects and keeps his or her best poker hand that consists of at least two cards and discards at least one card. From the Banker's cards, the Banker does the same.

Poker Bet: Either one of following rules can be incorporated into the game of Poker Bet:

Rules 1: If a Player's best poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's best poker hand according to a predetermined poker hand rankings of the game, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid either Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands or one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best poker hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best poker hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 2: If a Player's best poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's best poker hand according to a predetermined poker hand rankings of the game, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission; if the Player's best poker hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best poker hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 3: If a Banker's best poker hand is not one of the determined hands, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's best poker hand according to a predetermined poker hand rankings of the game, the Player's wager wins and is paid either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 4: If a Banker's best poker hand is not one of the determined hands, the Player's Poker wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's best poker hand according to the poker hand rankings of the game, the Player's wager wins and is paid either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Banker's best poker hand is one of the predetermined hands and the Player's best poker hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best poker hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best poker hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best poker hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best poker hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

THE GAME OF SIX CARDS PER HAND: There are two versions of the game of six cards per hand and they are:

Version I of Six Cards Per Hand: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt six cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 5-card hand and discards one card.

Poker Bet: Either one of following rules can be incorporated into the game of Poker Bet:

Rules 1: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is either the second highest Straight or A2345 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 2: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is either the second highest Straight or A2345 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; if the Banker's hand is not one of the predetermined hands, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2; if the Player's best 5-card poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card poker hand is one of the predetermined hands, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 3: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is either the second highest Straight or A2345 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; if the Banker's hand is not one of the predetermined hands, the Player's Poker wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card poker hand is one of the predetermined hands, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Rules 4: If a Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Ace, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2345 is either the second highest Straight or A2345 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; if the Player's best 5-card poker hand ranks higher than the Banker's, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 5-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 5-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Version II of Six Cards Per Hand: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt six cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 4-card hand and discards two cards.

Poker Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 4-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A234 is either the second highest Straight or A234 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 4-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 4-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 4-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 4-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

VERSION OF FIVE CARDS PER HAND: There are two versions of Five Cards Per Hand, and they are:

Version I of Five Cards Per Hand: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt five cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 4-card hand and discards one card.

Poker Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 4-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, 3 of a Kind, Flush, Straight, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A234 is either the second highest Straight or A234 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 4-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 4-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 4-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 4-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 4-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Version II of Five Cards Per Hand: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt five cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 3-card hand and discards two cards.

Poker Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 3-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows, Straight Flush, 3 of a Kind, Flush, Straight, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A23 is either the second highest Straight or A23 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands, or is paid one half of the wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 3-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 3-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 3-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 3-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

VERSION OF FOUR CARDS PER HAND: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt four cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 3-card hand and discards one card.

Poker Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 3-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows, Straight Flush, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A23 is either the second highest Straight or A23 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands, or is paid one half of the wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 3-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 3-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 3-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 3-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 3-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

VERSION OF THREE CARDS PER HAND: After at least one of three wagers of Poker Bet, Specified Hands Bet, and Bonus Bet is placed, every Player and the Banker are each dealt three cards, then each of them selects and keeps his or her best 2-card hand and discards one card.

Poker Bet: If a Player's best 2-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 2-card hand according to either a predetermined rankings or the following rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows, Straight Flush, Pair, Straight, Flush, and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein A2 is either the second highest Straight or A2 is the lowest Straight, whichever is chosen for the game; the Player's Poker wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is one of predetermined hands, or is paid one half of the wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not one of the predetermined hands; if the Player's best 2-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes and neither wins nor loses; if the Player's best 2-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.

Specified Hands Bet: If a Player's best 2-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Specified Hands wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 2-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Bonus Bet: If a Player's best 2-card hand is one of predetermined hands, the Player's Bonus wager wins and is paid according to a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 2-card hand is not one of predetermined hands, the Player's wager loses.

Since the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to many embodiments, therefore it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the detailed description and appended claims. 

1. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker, comprising the steps of: (a) providing and shuffling at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one Joker, wherein the Joker may be used as an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush; (b) placing either a Poker wager or Pair Of Aces Or Better wager, or both; (c) placing an optional Bonus wager; (d) dealing cards, seven cards each hand, to each Player and the Banker; (e) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (f) from their own seven dealt cards, each Player and the Banker selecting and keeping their best 5-card hand and discarding two cards; (g) determining whether each Player's Poker wager wins or loses, if any; wherein each Player's best 5-card hand is compared to the Banker's best 5-card hand according to the rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Aces, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein either A2345 is the second highest Straight and when it is suited, A2345 is the second highest Straight Flush, or A2345 is the lowest Straight and when it is suited, A2345 is the lowest Straight Flush; (h) settling each Player's Poker wager against the Banker; (i) determining whether each Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins or loses, if any; wherein a Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins if the Player is dealt a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand is a pair of Aces, Two Pair, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; and the Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager loses if the Player is not dealt a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand is not a pair of Aces or better; (j) settling each Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager against the Banker; (k) determining whether each Player's Bonus wager wins or loses, if any; and (l) settling each Player's Bonus wager against the Banker.
 2. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1, wherein the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 3. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1, wherein the Player's winning Pair Of Aces Or Better wager either is paid according to a predetermined pay table or is paid as follows: Hand Payout Odds Two Pair Or Better- 1 to 1 Two Or More Aces 3 to 2 7-Card 9 High 1 to 1


4. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1, wherein the Player's Bonus wager wins if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if a Player's best 5-card hand is 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; and the Player's winning Bonus wager is paid as follows: Hand Payout Odds 7-Card Straight Flush with No Joker 8,000 to 1 7-Card Straight Flush with Joker 2,000 to 1 5 Aces 800 to 1 Royal Flush 200 to 1 Straight Flush 60 to 1 4 of a Kind 40 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 3 of a Kind 2 to 1 7-Card 9 High 10 to 1


5. The method of playing a card game according to claim 1, wherein the Player's Bonus wager wins if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand, or if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand with 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces; the Player's wager pushes if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's with 3 of a Kind or better; the Player's wager loses if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand is not 3 of a Kind or better; the Player's winning wager is paid as follows: Hand Payout odds 7-Card Straight Flush With No Joker 10,000 to 1 7-Card Straight Flush With Joker 3,000 to 1 5 Aces 1,000 to 1 Royal Flush With No Joker 400 to 1 Royal Flush With Joker 200 to 1 Straight Flush 70 to 1 4 of a Kind 40 to 1 Full House 5 to 1 Flush 4 to 1 Straight 2 to 1 3 Of A Kind 2 to 1 7-Card 9 High 10 to 1


6. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker, comprising the steps of: (a) providing and shuffling either at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards or at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one Joker, wherein the Joker either may be used as an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush, or may be used as any card; (b) placing a Poker wager; (c) dealing cards, seven cards each hand, to each Player and the Banker; (d) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (e) from their own seven dealt cards, each Player and the Banker selecting and keeping their best 5-card hand and discarding two cards; (f) determining whether each Player's Poker wager wins, loses or ties; wherein each Player's best 5-card hand is compared to the Banker's best 5-card hand according to either a predetermined ranks or the rankings wherein hands are ranked in descending order as follows: 5 Aces, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card; wherein Ace is the highest High Card, following by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2; wherein either A2345 is the second highest Straight and when it is suited, it is the second highest Straight Flush, or A2345 is the lowest Straight and when it is suited, it is the lowest Straight Flush; and (g) settling each Player's wager against the Banker.
 7. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 8. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 9. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker Bet wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if a Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, or is paid according to a pay table ; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.
 10. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager pushes if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.
 11. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager automatically wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Player is dealt a 7-Card Straight Flush hand or a 7-Card 9 High hand; the Player's wager pushes if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand and, if the Player's hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player is dealt neither a 7-Card Straight Flush hand nor a 7-Card 9 High hand, and if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.
 12. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 13. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's wager wins and either is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, if the Banker's losing hand is a hand of King-Queen or better, or is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's losing hand is not a hand of King-Queen or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 14. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.
 15. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's wager automatically wins and is paid one half of the Player's wager, namely 1 to 2, if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a qualifying hand of Ace high or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is a qualifying hand of Ace high or better, the Player's wager loses.
 16. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager pushes if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined hand or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.
 17. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein the Player's Poker wager pushes if the Banker's best 5-card hand is not a predetermined rank or better; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined hand or better, the Player's wager wins and is paid according to either a predetermined payout odds or a predetermined pay table; if the Player's hand ranks the same as the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's and the Banker's best 5-card hand is the predetermined rank or better, the Player's wager loses.
 18. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as or ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 19. The method of playing a card game according to claim 6, wherein if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks higher than the Banker's best 5-card hand, the Player's Poker wager wins and is paid Even Money, namely 1 to 1, less a predetermined percent commission; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks the same as the Banker's, the Player's wager pushes; if the Player's best 5-card hand ranks lower than the Banker's, the Player's wager loses.
 20. A method of playing a card game among a plurality of Players and a Banker, each Player wagering against the Banker, comprising the steps of: (a) providing and shuffling either at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards or at least one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one Joker, wherein the Joker either may be used as an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush, or may be used as any card; (b) placing a Pair Of Aces Or Better wager; (c) dealing cards, seven cards each hand, to each Player and the Banker; (d) determining which dealt hand is assigned to each Player and which dealt hand is assigned to the Banker; (e) from their own seven dealt cards, each Player and the Banker selecting and keeping their best 5-card hand and discarding two cards; (f) determining whether each Player's Pair Of Aces Or Better wager wins or loses, wherein if a Player's best 5-card hand is a pair of Aces, Two Pair, 3 of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush or 5 Aces, the Player's wager wins and either is paid according to a predetermined pay table, or is paid 1 to 1 on Two Pair or better and 3 to 2 on two or more Aces in the Player's seven dealt cards; and (g) settling each Player's wager against the Banker. 